Senior LHP Steve Sabatino.

St. Louis Cardinals Draft Steve Sabatino In 26th Round

June 6, 2012

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame senior LHP Steve Sabatino was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 26th round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft Wednesday.

Sabatino was the third and final Notre Dame player chosen in the 2012 MLB draft. He joined junior C Joe Hudson (Cincinnati Reds, 6th round) and senior RHP Will Hudgins (Washington Nationals, 22nd round). The Irish have now had three or more players drafted in 15 of the last 18 MLB drafts (dating back to 1995).

“Being able to play professional baseball has been my dream for as long as I can remember,” said Sabatino. “Thanks to all the people who never stopped believing in me. I am so grateful for all their support. Notre Dame has pushed me to be the person I am today.”

“Steve is another example of player that earned his draft selection,” said second-year head coach Mik Aoki. “He missed an entire season with Tommy John, but worked his tail off to be ready this season. Steve struggled early with his command this year, but kept at it and really helped us down the stretch this season.”

Sabatino pitched in 49 career games and made 20 career starts. He posted a career 6-7 record with a 5.01 ERA. Sabatino collected 120 strikeouts in 140.0 career innings, good for a 7.71 per nine-inning average. He limited his opponents to a .269 career batting average.

After missing the entire 2011 season following Tommy John surgery, Sabatino appeared in 27 game in 2012 and logged 35.2 innings of work with 34 strikeouts. He went 0-1 with a 5.05 ERA and limited his opposition to a .248 batting average.

Sabatino rebounded from a difficult start to the `12 campaign. He posted a 9.22 ERA and issued 15 walks over five appearances (13.2 innings), but excelled over his last 22 outings. Sabatino recorded a 2.08 ERA with 23 strikeouts and only five walks in his last 22.0 innings of work.

Sabatino was even better in BIG EAST action. He registered a 0.73 ERA and limited his foes to a .163 batting average in 13 appearances. Sabatino yielded just seven hits, all singles, in 12.1 innings, fanned 15 and walked just one batter.

Year   era   w-l   app   gs   cg   sho   sv   ip     h    r   er   bb   so   bavg2009   3.86  3-0   7     5    0    0/0   0    32.2   29   16  14   21   25   .2542010   5.53  3-7   15    14   0    0/0   0    71.2   83   62  44   33   61   .2832012   5.05  0-1   27    1    0    0/1   0    35.2   31   21  20   20   34   .248TOTAL  5.01  6-8   49    20   0    0/1   0    140.0  143  99  78   74   120  .269

— ND —